About us

Addressing Global Challenges

The challenges shaping today’s world — from globalization to European integration — require the ability to understand complex and interconnected dynamics. While often perceived as distant or fragmented, these processes also create new opportunities for cooperation, development, and innovation. Interpreting them calls for rigorous analysis, critical thinking, and an interdisciplinary perspective.

The School of International Studies (SIS) at the University of Trento was established in 2001 to respond to these challenges. Founded through the collaboration of several University Departments, the School became a University Centre in 2012 and has since established itself as a leading centre for advanced education and research in international studies.

Education Across Disciplines

SIS is the only Graduate School in Italy offering specialised programmes in International Studies designed for students who have completed a three-year undergraduate degree. Its academic offer includes:

a two-year Master’s Degree in European and International Studies (MEIS)
a two-year Master’s Degree in International Security Studies (MISS), jointly offered with the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa
the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree in Security, Intelligence and Strategic Studies (IMSISS), delivered in partnership with the University of Glasgow, Dublin City University, Charles University in Prague, and the University of Belgrade
a three-year Doctoral Programme in International Studies

These programmes provide advanced interdisciplinary training across Economics, Law, Political Science, Sociology, and the Humanities, building on strong undergraduate foundations.

Research and International Engagement

Research at SIS addresses the major challenges of globalization and European integration through a multidisciplinary approach. By combining different disciplinary perspectives , it contributes to a deeper understanding of social, political, economic, and institutional transformations in the wider international landscape.

The School offers a vibrant and international academic environment, where students, faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and visiting scholars from around the world contribute to a dynamic intellectual community. Conferences, workshops, guest lectures, and exchanges with practitioners from leading international organizations enrich the academic experience and foster dialogue between research and practice.

Over the years, SIS has developed an extensive network of European research centres and think tanks, fostering joint research initiatives and collaborative teaching projects.